Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - U.S. Attorney James P. Kennedy, Jr. announced today that Willie J. Wofford, 45, of Rochester, NY, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Elizabeth A. Wolford to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm and ammunition by an unlawful drug user. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, and a fine of $1,000,000 or both. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Douglas E. Gregory and Charles E. Moynihan, who are handling the case, stated that on February 20, 2018, Rochester Police Officers were in the area of York Street and saw the defendant engaging in behavior that lead them to believe he was selling drugs from his vehicle. When officers stopped Wofford and spoke with him, they smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and could see marijuana in plastics bags in the rear, passenger area. The defendant argued with officers over the legality of the stop and refused to get out of his vehicle. Wofford finally exited his vehicle and was arrested after officers attempted to break the windows in order to remove him. During a search of the vehicle, officers recovered cocaine and marijuana packaged for sale, along with a loaded semiautomatic handgun, in the center console. Officers secured more marijuana from the rear, passenger area, which was also packaged for sale.

The plea is the result of an investigation by the Rochester Police Department, under the direction of Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, under the direction of Special Agent-in-Charge John B. Devito, New York Field Division.

Sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. before Judge Wolford.